Be Honest: Your Thoughts on The Great Movie Ride

[powlessfamily4]

although the alien scene is fairly uneventful A L I E N is my favorite movie of all time so i would be crushed not seeing the poorly reconstructed nostromo interior.

I agree! I LOVE the ALIEN almost dropping out of the ceiling. I always try to reposition myself so that I am under it. :lol:

 

[jvenegas]

I just returned from a trip 12/29-01/09 and rode it two or three times. I believe it depends on the CM that you get on board for the ride. I think that most of them just go through the motions and don't put too much of an effort in entertaining. Also, have you guys seen the palm trees in the load/unload area? They look as if they were used in the movie Volcano

If you want my honest opinion, this time around I found the ride kind of lame, again, I had a couple of non-enthusiastic CM's in two of the times I rode, so, maybe that was it.

But I certainly believe it's time for a refurb and bring it more up to date with a couple of new movies and maybe changing the queu clips a bit.:wave:

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

We must always get lucky because out CM's always do a great job and are very enthusiastic.This is one of my favorite attractions (along with my mother and sister's) A few new updates and AA as others have pointed out would definitely make it better. Add in a few more scenes that everyone can recognize (young children, grandparents, etc..)

 

[Coach81]

It needs to be updated.. at least..

 

[PlaneCrazy1978]

That's pretty much how I felt. I rode the GMR over Christmas, with a long line and packed crowds with what seemed like a high percentage of foreign guests. The CMs, with all due respect to them, seemed as if they were reciting a script from their head and just going through the motions, as you said... any enthusiasm seemed kind of forced, far from the genuine energy of Jungle Cruise skippers. The result of all this was that I've never seen a ride lost on so many people. Lots of bored faces and confused stares during the ride.

So before this turns into a thread listing movies people would rather see in the GMR, I'll list some other changes they could make to the overall show...

1. Animatronics refurb. GMR needs a refurb just like Spaceship Earth got, with all of the AAs replaced with ones that have more exaggerated movement and less rubbery skin. The GMR AAs are some of the most dated-looking on property IMO.

2. Digital surround sound. If the average movie theater has crystal clear sound now, the GMR certainly should, right?

3. Redo the Fantasia scene to represent the tornado scene from the Wizard of Oz, as was originally intended. That way it would mark a transition from black and white (Casablanca) to color (Munchkinland).

4. Make the finale movie more impressive. Don't won't to offend the OP here :lol:, but I don't think the row of movie screens is that impressive these days, even thought the montage is very good. The room seems to have a lot of wasted space, just being surrounded in dark curtains. I'd like to seem them cover the walls in screens of various sizes so they can play many scenes simultaneously, kind of like the Animation building at DCA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKDy6enyUnc

I think that would be amazing.

New movie scenes should be something worth looking at too. Although the theme of classic, enduring, and genre-defining movies should be kept, some of the movies should be replaced with things that are more recognizable.

You should see what they originally had planned for that last room. You would have been impressed. It would put the movie screens to shame.

 

[David Roberts]

For years, this was my favorite attraction at MGM/Hollywood Studios, maybe next to ToT. The montage at the end is simply epic for me.

Over the years, I spoke with CMs and they always said it was near the top of the list for a refurb, but it's still essentially the same. I still love having the live tour guide, the different scenes, and the action when stealing the jewel.

However, I'm kind of over Alien and the overall feel of the ride. I feel like a non purist saying that, but it just doesn't have the same magic feel to it for me anymore. And don't even get me started on the pre show big screen clips.

What do you think needs to be done? Or just leave it as is?

Unfortunately, I disagree with nearly everything you said. I agree that their is a problem with TGMR. It's one of my favorite rides but the past few times I've been on it, it's been completely lackluster. This is due mostly to the not-exceptional drivers we've had.

The Alien scene is the reason I go on this every single time. I think people are so quick on here to point that one out maybe cause their not fans of Alien? However it cannot be disputed that Alien is one of the best Sci-fi/Horror movies ever made and interest in it should only be fueled when the prequel by Ridley Scott comes out in a year or so.

The movies in the queue are also a personal favorite, especially Indy. A refurb of this riden worries me because after seeing some of the movies added to the finale video I don't have complete faith they will choose the right movies to be added or removed.

 

[Iteachwood]

I totally agree that it need tweeking. For those of us that have seen it like 200 times...I would think it wouldn't break Disney to add a different scence or 2 in movie or a little change in the ride to keep us disney fantatics coming back.

 

[menamechris]

I may get a lot of criticism for this, but I think they need to get rid of the CM guides. They would definetly have to rework the whole ride, or figure out a new way to do the gangster scene, etc., but it could be done. I would say MAYBE half CM's actually put as much enthusiasm as needed, without going over the top and being awkward, OR acting bored, or as if they are reciting a script. I would be totally fine with taking the narration away from the CM's, and putting in an excellent automated narration.

 

[kcnole]

I love the overall feel and idea of the ride and its something that always needs to be in DHS. The problem is that the only updates done to it have been to reduce it. It needs a major, major update, refreshing some of the old scenes and adding some new ones to it. Keep the classics like Casablanca, Wizard of Oz, Indiana Jones, but take out some of the others like Alien and update them to newer effects.

Unfortunately, I think this attraction is very low on the priority list for DHS currently. I think right now we're going to see updates to Star Tours (almost done), new Pixar rides, removing backlot and adding new attractions before we ever see any considerable money put into this attraction.

 

[T-1MILLION]

I may get a lot of criticism for this, but I think they need to get rid of the CM guides. They would definetly have to rework the whole ride, or figure out a new way to do the gangster scene, etc., but it could be done. I would say MAYBE half CM's actually put as much enthusiasm as needed, without going over the top and being awkward, OR acting bored, or as if they are reciting a script. I would be totally fine with taking the narration away from the CM's, and putting in an excellent automated narration.

Not gonna blast you but that is a lot of fun in the concept of the ride. You have an unexpected situation (for first timers) where a bad guy of a movie genere hijacks your tour and eventually meets their moral fate. Instead of just seeing movie scene dioramas the movies end up interacting with you. To take that out would make it like any other montage ride.

I say that concept needs Tender Loving Care and plussing just as others have said, like many rides around the resort.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I honestly enjoy the ride. I do agree that the ride needs a refurbishment, but I am not sure about replacing the films. I do wish that films such as The Wizard of Oz had more presense on the ride.

I love the interaction with the gangsters (name is slipping my mind)... its a fun time all around.

 

[MKCP 1985]

There are a couple of 'meh show scenes in the Great Movie Ride, but the gangster/wild west scenes and Munchkinland make the Great Movie Ride a classic.

 

[menamechris]

Not gonna blast you but that is a lot of fun in the concept of the ride. You have an unexpected situation (for first timers) where a bad guy of a movie genere hijacks your tour and eventually meets their moral fate. Instead of just seeing movie scene dioramas the movies end up interacting with you. To take that out would make it like any other montage ride.

Yeah, and I totally understand that, but its always rough when your enjoyment of an attraction is based on a CM's acting ability and delivery. Especially when it is supposed to be taken somewhat seriously (unlike Jungle Cruise). I think it could be re-tooled to where the CM is more of a "driver" than a guide and commentator. This already kind of happens when the ganster or cowboy take over the vehicle. They could just extend that concept throughout. But hey, if people really love it the way it is, my feelings about it aren't that strong...ha!

 

[dopeylove]

My family loves the GMR. We had an amazing CM awhile back. Her name was Megan LaValle. Although we had been on the ride a million times, she made it so much fun. We actually went on it several times during our stay (I think it was Christmas break 2009) and asked for her by name each time we went on the ride. When we went back a few months later, she was gone.

I wish they would put a scary scene in there were people would jump out at you, like zombies. Or if they kept the Alien part, maybe they could have it spit out slime or something like that to catch people off guard.

In general, I think putting more live people in it would make it more fun.

 

[lisak09]

I like it, it's one that the whole family can enjoy. That said i agree that it depends on the cm and last year the one we had was pretty awful. This was a pity because we had family members with us on their first visit to WDW and it's a shame they didn't get to see GMR at its best.

 

[loveofamouse]

Personally, while I do ride it every trip (one of the few rides the whole family can ride), TGMR is in need of some serious love. The ALIEN scene has the potential to be so much more. I'[m not saying make people ______ their pants but could definitely be better with much better AAs. Seeing Ryder's waxy/rubbery face shaking side to side like a slow seizure isn't entertaining.

I love the gangster/wild west scenes but, adding in new technologies and advancements, those areas could be even better. The WoO scene of just dorothy and her peeps on the yellow brick road could have more involved AAs. There's hardly any movement there.

Mary poppins could have more movement and better hiding of the lift arm. For a ride when the guests are riding past and behind some effects, more effort needs to go into hiding the mechanics. The last scene with the plane(name escapes me right now although I'm sure I'll be corrected) needs a longer loop and new skin on the AAs. Whenever we go through there, we hear that loop a few times, watching the propeller start and stop repeatedly.

I do agree that the final clip show is great but more could be done with such a big empty room. Maybe theme it like we are riding through a movie set or a movie vault, SOMETHING.

The preshow could prolly use work although, honestly, I hardly see it. Seems every time we go in there, it's walk straight through to the ride.

CM picking definitely needs to improve. I've ridden with great CMs that just made it fun. They even went off script. Then I've ridden with drones. Sadly, our last trip, we had a first timer with us so she walked away thinking the ride was old and lame cause the CM was just unemotional, flat, and no fun at all. Then there were mechanical blips..

 

[thelookingglass]

The Great Movie Ride is a tricky one for me to form a proper opinion on.

On one hand, I love classic feel of the attraction, and how its one of the only remainders of the early Disney-MGM Studios and the atmosphere the park originally had. Its really the only ride of its kind, and the concept of having your tour hijacked by a character in one of the movies you're traveling through is a genius concept (how well the CMs portray it is another story...)

That said, like most of you, I feel it could use some major updates. A few movies absolutely need to be ditched (Tarzan, Footlight Parade), and unless Disney starts requiring auditions to work there like Jaws at Universal does, then they may want to re-work the ride to rely less on the guides.

 

[Raychul]

although the alien scene is fairly uneventful A L I E N is my favorite movie of all time so i would be crushed not seeing the poorly reconstructed nostromo interior.

Completely agree. This ride would be dead to me if there were no Alien scene. I think they could make it a little more exciting, maybe queue the Aliens' appearances better. But I am a huge horror fan and the fact that horror movies are barely even mentioned always makes me sad. The Alien scene is one of the only good ones for us horror/sci-fi fans.

I think it's time to update some of the movies shown. Really don't think we need Tarzan anymore, or Singing in the Rain. How about Star Wars? Or riding through the Psycho bathroom set?

 

[muse1983]

I have talked many times about TGMR on the forums and usually get bashed everytime I mention anyhing negative about it :lol:. The fact of the matter is that it has turned into a tired/aging attraction and need a major facelift. Scenes need to be taken away (Tarzan has been irrelevant for years) and the others need to be spruced up (ALIEN and Raiders are 2 that immediately come to mind, the AA's are embarrasing). There also needs to be at least 2 scenes added (nothing after 1995, to many people want to see current films thrown into the GMR when they have no business even coming close to it). Empire Strikes Back, Fantasia and Gone with the Wind are three that immediately come to mind as welcome additions to the ride.

 

[marni1971]

Agree.

I still love the Wicked Witch for the Wizard of Oz...She is one of the better animatronics.

SHe was the first A-100.

Great attraction in dire need of a technical update.